Tractor



Jan. 25., 1944. '1. D.fMAxoN ETAL TRACTOR 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 A Original Filed Nov. 5, 1957 Jan. 25, 1944.`

l l'. D. MAxoNETAL Original Filed Nov. 5, 1937' Jan- 25, 1944. D. MAXON ET AL l 2,340,134

TRACTOR Original Fj'Lled Nov. 5, 1937 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 2/ LA I lfm D. Mmm/v, MAX SKLovs/fy e W/L/.ARD /.NoRor/vso/v 'dii l'. D. MAXON ETL 2,340,134

Jan. 25, 1944.

TRACTOR Original Filed Nov. 5, 1957 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 IIII w JK. ,a

vl m m M w M m M X m AN MH M.D mm M n. v D. Q w W m @uw QQ: u Ju ARMY Uu/ Q n@ n QQ w@ NN QN Patented Jan. 25, 1944 UNIT-EDSTATES PATENT oFFlwcE TRACTOR Ira D. Maxon, Max Sklovsky, and Willard H. Nordenson,'Moline, Ill., assignors to Deere & Company, Moline, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Original application November 1937, Serial No. 172,906.` Divided and this application January 5, 1942, Serial No. 425,634

Y tors seat. In the accomplishment of this object,

12 Claims.

The present invention relates to farm tractors and the like, with particular reference to tractors of the'type used for cultivating a. single Vrow of y crops, and is a division of a co-pending application, Serial No. 172,906, filed November 5, 1937, by Maxon, Sklovsky and Nordenson.

The principal object of the present inventionrelates to the provision of a tractor having a novel and improved power transmitting `connection from the differential gears to the propelling wheels, which connection is comparatively simple in design and therefore comparatively inexpensive j to manufacture, but without sacriiice of lstrength and durability. More specifically, it is an object e of the present invention to provide a rear axle structure of the type having depending nal drive i housings for the purpose of maintaining the rear axle housing in an elevated position to clear a row of crops beneath the center line of the tractor, and has to do with4 the provision of a final drive mechanism that is comparatively simple but strong, and is readily accessible for purposes o quick assembly and disassembly.

An additional object of this invention is th provision of a tractor in which the transmission and differential units are mounted in the same housing, which housing is secured to and supported in an improved manner in the rear axle f housing. It is also an object to provide a fullv wheel driving means. A related object has to dov with locating the diiierentia1 brake elements within the final drive housings in a position which is well protected from dirt and damage, but which is easily accessible after the nal drive housing is dismounted. Still another object relates to the provision of a final drive housing from which the gear on the wheel axle is readily removable, without the necessity of dismounting the housing from the tractor.

It is a further object of the present invention to make it possible for the operator to view the crop row beneath the center of the tractor, while .seated in a normal sitting position in the operathe differential gearmechanism is offset to one side of the center` line of thetractor, together with the ,transmission shaft and tractor engine, while the transmission shaft is covered with an enclosure which is so narrow that, with the shaft disposed in offset relation, the enclosure is entire--` 1y to one sideof the center line, whereby the voperator is able to look past the enclosure to watch the actionof. cultivating tools upon the y row of plants beneath the center line of the tractor. n

These and other objects and advantages of the present inventionwill be apparent to those skilled --in the art :after a consideration" 'of the following detailed description of theY preferred embodiment of the-iriventiometalrenV in conjunction with the p accompanyingdrawings illustrating such embodi- In the drawings:` r Y Figure 1 is a plan viewofa tractor embodying the principles of the present invention, certain parts'being broken away in order to show better the construction with which thepresent in vention is principally concerned;

Figure 2irs a partial sectional view taken along thel line 2--2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary view, taken on the underside of the tractor and looking rearwardly at the drawbar frame. I L

Figure 4 is an enlarged fr ont view showingy the front axle with the plant guiding apron casting removed;

Figure 5 is an enlarged plan View of the rear axle banjo housing, parts being broken away to show the manner of securing a weldedconnection between the tubular frame members and the cast iron banjo housing;

Figure 6 is a transverse verticalsection taken through the rear axle housing assembly, generally along the line 6--6 of Figure 1;

Figure i is a fragmentary section taken along the line 'l-l of Figure 6; and Figure 8 is a side view of the rear end of the tras-tor with a cultivator rig attached to the rear ends ofthe tubular frame members, the near traction wheel being 'removed in order to show the parts with more clarity.

Referring now'more particularly to Figures 1 and 2, the frame of the tractor islindicated in its entirety by the reference numeri`A 5 and comprises two laterally spaced generllllongitudinally extending tubular steel members 9 and I0 converging slightly toward their forward ends and connected at the front by a cast steel cross cally the same formation as the brackets I3 described above and to which the forward portions of the frame members 9 and I0 are welded. These cross members or castings Il and I2 serve as rigidy parts of the frame 5 receiving the front axle 'assembly connections, as will be described below.

At the rear end of the frame 5 the tubular frame bars 9 and I0 extend through and beyond a cast iron axle housing I5 of thevbanjo type, which is best shown in Figure 5. Preferably, although -not necessarily, the frame bars 9 and il extend through openings I6 formed in the. front and rear wall sections of the rear axle housing generally below the center line thereof (Figure 6). Preferably, the tubular frame members 9 and Il are formed of steel tubing, while the rear axle housing I5 is formed of cast iron. According to the present invention, to secure aI rigid and/ reliable weld in fastening the frame bars 9 and I0 to the rear axle housing, steel collar inserts I8, which have the same inside diameter as the outside diameter of the tubular frame members 9 and I0, are cast in proper position in the rear `axle housing at the same time that the latter is cast. l

Preferably the rear end portions of the tubular 'frame members 9 and I0 extend through the axle housing and rearwardly thereof,.as at Il 'and 2l, so as to provide a novel means for attaching cultivator rigs and other implements or tools to the tractor.

zontally disposed holes 2 I and 22 providing means for securing implement draft frames and the'like to the rear lend of the tractor.

. :A suitable power plant, such as a two cylinder gasoline motor 23, is carried on the forward end of the frame 5, and forward of the motor 23 the frame carries'a radiator 24,' and above the motor 23 is a fuel tank 25. At the rear of the tractor Y frame an operators seat 26 is bolted, as at 25a in Figure 2, to a seat bar 21 which is bolted, as

at 28, to a boss 29. The forward end ot the seat bar 21 is provided with a number of openings 39 formed in the seat bar in properly spaced relation so as to provide for adjusting the seat 25` fore and aft so as to bring the operator to the proper position. Fixed to the tubular frame members 9 and I0 a short distance forwardly of the rear 'axle housing I5 are two foot-rest platforms and 36, as best shown in Figure 1. From this figure it willl be seenthat the motor, the radiator, the fuel tank, and the propeller shaft, to be described later, are all offset slightly to the left ofthe tractor, while the operators station or seat-on the tractor is disposed slightly to the right. This particular construction materially improves the visibility from the operators seat for steering'the tractor While cultivating, it being seen from Figure 1 that there is an unobstructed area A (Figure l) of substantial extent through which the operator can view the plants being cultivated or the ground being traversed. The operator is thus ableto look past the propeller shaftenclosure and watch the action of cultivat- The end portions I9 and 29 are. provided with a number of vertically and neri-- ing tools upon the `row of plants beneath the center line of the tractor, while sitting in a normal sitting position without the necessity for leaning over or craning his neck.

The front wheel supporting structure is best shown in Figures l, 2 and 4, and comprises a transversely disposed steel pipe member 31, the outer. ends of which have generally vertically `aligned apertures through'which extend smaller tubular steel members 38 that are arranged generally vertically, as best shown in Figure 4. 'I'he vertical tubular members 38 arel set at a slight angle tothe perpendicular in order to provide the correct steering geometry for the tractor, andare welded to` the front transverse tubular member 31 'along their lines of intersection therewith at boththe top and bottom, thereby providing an extremely rigid structure. The vertical members Il extend downwardly for a considerable extent below the transverse tube 31 and receive the kingpins 39 that support the' front wheels 40 on the tractor. A draglink 43 extends forwardly from a' worm and sector mechanism 44 that is actuated by the steering shaft`45 to which a steering wheel- 45a is fixed at its upper end. The forward end of the drag link 43, as best shown in Figure 1', is pivotally connected to the arm 46 of a bell crank lever 41 that is xed to the upper end of the left wheel king pin 39. A tie rodv 43 extends transversely of the tractor forward of and adjacent the upper edge of the front axle tubei 31, and at one-end the tie rod 48 is connected to the other arm 49 of the bell crank 41 whilfe the other end of the tie rod 48 is pivoted to an arm 5l that is fixed to the upper end of the right wheel king-pin. From Figure 4 it will bei particularly noted that the front end construction'of the tractor constructed according to the principles of the' present invention is especially adaptedto' pass 'over plants and the like and-'has no projecting parts, braces, radius rods, andthe like, which would tend to catch the stalks. Instead, the use of pipe members provides smooth rounded surfaces under which the plants can pass without becoming entangled. The tie-rod 4l is disposed in an upper position with respect to the front axle tube 31 so that -there is little danger of the part 48 catching stalks, plants andthe like.

- The tractor is supported on the front axle assembly substantially at the mid-point of the front axle` tube 31. Substantially at its central portion the member 31 is provided with longitudinally aligned openings 52 in which a longitudinally extending tube 53 is disposed, the parts 31 and 53 beiiig securely welded 'together along the lines of intersection. Triangular gusset plates 54 -are Welded between the two tubular members 31 and 53 so as to provide the required lateral rigidity. The longitudinal tubular member 53 is supported at` its forward end in thecentral opening in the steel casting Il, and at its rear end the tubular member 53 is supported in the rear steel casting l2. Suitable bearings 55 and 56 are disposed in the central openings in the castings II and I2 and receive the tubular member 53 for rocking movement about a longitudinal axis. Preferably. the bearings 55 and 5B are of the pre-loaded type, these bearings being pre-loaded at the time of assembly by means of front and rear bearing caps v51 which have shoulders that bear against the outer races of the bearings the inner races I of which'bear against shoulders provided in any suitable manner on the ends of the longitudinal member 53. Shims are placed under the bearing caps 51 so that when the bearing caps are tightened up against the transverse castings and I2;y the bearings will b e placed under an initial thrust load so as to eliminate any slack while providing forv free lateral rocking movement of the front axle assembly relative to' the tractor.` Fore and aft rigidity is, however, mainand in bosses 58 raised on the inner surface of the apron 60, and continues the line of the radistantmesh with its drivingpinion se through a ator down under the tractor, as best shown in Figure 2, thereby guiding the tops of tall plants down under the tractor without breaking the stalks or otherwise injuring them. It will be noted that the apron strikes the plants high on the stalks where they are most flexible, bending them gently downwardly so as to clear lthe front axle.

The drive from the motor comprises a clutch 6| that is carried in a clutch housing`62, and the clutch 6| is operated by means of a clutch pedal 68 that is mounted on the left hand frame member 9 immediately forward of the foot-rest platform 35. Immediately rearwardly of the clutch is a belt pulley takeoff 64 that is driven by any suitable connection with a bevel gear 65 that is mounted `on the shaft 56 that is driven when the clutch 6| is engaged. The rear end of the shaft 66 has a flexible coupling 10 that comprises a disk 1| of exible material connected to the'shaft 66 by means of three fingers 12 and toa propeller shaft 13 by three lingers 14 that are spaced angularly from the driving ngers 12. A second flexible coupling 15 is disposed at the rear end of the propeller shaft 13 and is substantially the same as the flexible coupling -just described. The coupling l operates the driving shaft 16 of the tractor transmission 11.

yA hood 80 extends the length of the propeller shaft 13, and at its ends covers the two exible couplings 10 and 15. The hood 80 is sufficiently narrow, as is evident from the drawings, that in its offset position, is disposed entirely to the left of the center line of the tractor along v`its intermediate portion, and thus does not interfere with the operators line of vision of the row of plants under the center of the tractor. l

Boththe transmissionand the differential are carried in a single housing 8| which is divided by a wall 82 into a front transmission compartment and a rear differential compartment. The transfront and rear portions of the transmission com- .partment.

The gears 92 and 93 are provided with suitable grooves which receive suitable shifting forks controlled by a gear shift lever 95,. The

gears 9| and 9 4 arefree to turn on the driven shaft 90, and the gear 9| runs in constant mesh with the companion driving pinion 83 on the driving shaft 16. The rear gear 94 is in conreverse idler gear (not shown). The gears 9| and 94 have Icompanion clutch teeth with which the clutch teeth on the shiftable gears 92 and 93 are adapted to engage for the purpose of locking the selected gear to the shaft 90. Thus, the gear 92 may be movedinto engagement with either the.

pinion 84 or the gear 9|, and the gear 93 may be moved into engagement with either the pinion 85 or the gear 94. The driven transmission shaft extends rearwardly through the dividing wall 82 and into the differential compartment. A bevel pinion 96 is iixedto thev rear end of the transmission driven shaft 90.

The differential unit that is disposed within the differential compartment of lthe common housing 8|is generally of conventional design. A ring gear |00, with which the driving bevel pinion 96 meshes, is 'fixed in any suitable manner to a differential pinion frame |0| (Figure 6) which -is supported by laterally spaced roller bearings |02 that are mounted in the side walls of the housing bined transmission and differential case 8| is thus fastened in place, the differential unit is disposed entirely within the rear axle housing I5. One advantage of this particular construction is that the quantity of lubricant 'required for the differential is greatly reduced, since it is neces? sary only to have the required amount of lubri-v cant in the differential compartment; it is not necessary to fill the entire banjo housing with lubricant up to the. level required by the differential unit.

The power is transmitted from the differential unit to two full floating drive'shafts |I0 and Ill which extend into the differential section of the housing 8| and into and through the bevel gears |05 and |06 of the differential. The inner ends of the axle shafts ||0 and are splined, as at ||2, and engage companion splines formed in the hubs of the differential gears |05 and.|06. The

differential pinion frame |0| also receives the inner ends of the full floating drive or axle shafts I|0 and `permitting both sliding and rotative movement between the axle shafts and the pinion frame |0I. A thrust block ||3 bears against the inner ends of the axle shafts ||0 and and serves to maintain them in substantially fixed spaced relation at lall times. The thrust block I3 isprovided with a slot |09 through which the differential pinion shaft |03 passes, the slot |08 permitting axial floating movement of the axle shafts.

A'cover ||4 closes the end of the differential compartment and acts to connea lubricant used to the relatively small compartment,., making it unnecessary to fill the entire banjo housing with lubricant, as mentioned above.

aperture 202 disposed in a fore and aft extending vertical plane (see Figure 6), which is disposed ,in register with anoutwardlyfacing opening 203 carried in the walls-of the depending casing portion 204, respectively. A driven gear |I9` is fixed, as by splines |20to the wheel axle I I1 within the casing portion 204, each of the bearing units |24 being supported in a bearing cap 205, 206, re-

spectively, which are fixed within suitable openings `in the walls of the depending casing 204. The gear' |I9 is secured on the splined portion |20 of the shaft I1 by means of a bolt 201, which acts through a washer 208 which bears against the inner race of the inner roller bearing |24. The

bottom of the casing portion 204 is provided with an oblong opening 2 I0, which faces downwardly and is disposed in a substantially horizontal plane,

`so that the whole bottom of the casing 204 is -open for the purpose of installing or removing the driven gearl I9. The opening 2 I0 is normally' closed by a detachable cover pan |62, having edge portions which abut the lower edges of the side and end walls of the depending casing 204, and fixed thereto by bolts 2| The lower opening 2|0 is disposed in a plane near the axle |I1, so that the lower periphery of the gear IISI` extends below the opening, and the bottom pan |62 is formed with a depending wall portion 2|2, which fis shaped to receive the lower periphery of the gear ||9 and to hold a quantityof suitablelubricant for the gear. A

A drive gear or pinion v|2I isdisposed in the upper portion of the final drive housing ||6 in mesh with the driven gear I I9 and is formed integral with a shaft `|33,journaled on opposite mounted in a collar 2|4, which is appropriately seated within the housing.

" The drivev shafts |22 at opposite sides of the tractor are connected with the associated axle shaft ||0, I|| by means of coupling members |25, each coupling member comprising a hub which is internally splined and has. a ltight engagement with splines |26 on the drive gear shaft |22 associated therewith, and a sliding engagement with splines |21-thatare formed on the outer end of the associated axle shaft ||'0, Sufcient clearance is provided between the ends of the axle shafts and the associated drive gear shafts |22 so that the rear axle shafts are full floating, that is to say, they are free to slide transversely within the splined hubs |25 and also Within the splined differential gears |05,y |06. Each of the shafts I0, I I I is urged inwardly into contact with the thrust ,block |I3 Iby means of a compression spring |20, which acts against the shoulder |20 on the associated axle shaft and reacts against the inner end of the hub. of the coupling member |25.' 'I'hus the springs |28 also serve to hold the coupling members |25 in secure engagement with the splined drive gear shaft |22- f A spacer sleeve |30 embraces the shaft |22 between the inner .bearing unit |23 and the hub.

|25. -Thus it is evident that both of the rear axles |I0, together with the thrust block |I3.

parts vare centered by the 'compression springs The outer ybearing |23 is carried in al |28. By virtue of thisconstruction, stresses duev to structural distortion` of the tractor frame are not transmitted to the differential gears or the associated bearings. l

It will be noted that each of the parts in the final drive housings II6' are readily accessible for purposes of disassembly and assembly. The driven gear |I9 is easily removed from the final drive housing without dismounting the latter by first removing the 4bottom cover |62 or pan and the inner bearing cover 206, after which the securing bolt 201 and washer 208 are removed from the end of the`wheel axle ||1, permitting the inyner bearing unit |24 to -be withdrawn through the opening inthe inner wall of the lower casingportion 204. The wheel axle II1 can then be withdrawn outwardly from the housing, which freesthe driven gear I9, permitting the latter tol ture 202, itis easily accessible after the final .drive housing has been dismounted, and can be Withdrawn from the shaft |22 `through the aperture 202. The bearing retaining collar 2|4 can then be removed, after which the shaft' |22 and gear I2I, together with the bearings |23 can be removed from the housing I I6 through the aperture 202. 1

Each of the coupling members |25 is provided with a brake drum I3I integrally formed there' with, and surrounding each brake drum is a brake band |32 that is adapted to be contracted -by the action of the brake rod |33 connected to theband at one end. The other end of the brake band is held against movement by an anchor pinl |34 that is carriedvby the associated final drive housing I6. The brake band I 32 is faced with a suitable lining I35, and the brake rod extends forwardly through an aperture |36 in the wall of the" final drive housing H6. A compression spring .ately forward' of the foot-rest platform 36'. The (pedal faces` are disposed close together sogthat both may be operated at the same time by the operators right foot engaging bothof them,or they `may be separately operated, as whenit is desired to make a sharp turn, say vat the end 'of a row are freely movable axially. as Aa unit, and these l when planting or cultivating, .by the operator shifting his foot to the pedal desired. The pedal Shanks |40', |4| extend downwardly ilush'with thev inner adjacent ends of the pedal'faces, in order that when one of the pedals is depressed,

'the operators foot cannot catch under they other is pivoted to the right hand -brake pedal |4| and' extends rearwardly and is pivoted to a lever arm .|46 on a rock shaft |41. Both rock shafts are supported by the tubular frame members 0A and 'I 0 through suitable hangers |50. At the left end of the rock shaft |45, a. lever arm ISI connects with the brake rod |33 to actuate the left wheel brake. At the right end of the other rock shaft |41, a lever arm |52 connects with the brake rod |33 of the right wheel brake to actuate the latter.

The rear traction wheels are. each indicated at |55, andeach includes'a wheel disc |56 that is held on the flange |51 ofthe wheel axle I|1 by a plurality of bolts |60. The wheel tread of the tractor is made adjustable by meansv of spacers |6| disposed between the wheel disc |56 and the wheel receivingilange |51. By using spacers of from the tractor through suitable connections with the lower portions of the final drive housings. As best shown in Figure 8, a boss |63 having a vertical transverse face -is formed on the lower front portion of each of the final drive housings |I6, and bolted tothe bosses |63 is a. transversely extending draft tongue frame member |64 which is constructed of .angle iron that is bowed slightly. forward through the middle section for additional rigidity, and has laterally disposed slots |65 at its ends. Bolts |66 are passed through the slots |65 and screwed into threaded holes in the bosses |63, as best indicated in Figure 3. A U-shapedmember |10 is welded to the back side of the member |64 at its midpoint, as best shown in Figure 2, and thearms jef the member |10 are apertured to receive a transverse pivot bolt |1| that recelvesla strap |12 which is carriedby a draft tongue |14 by means of a vertical pivot bolt |13. The strapf|12 and the two pivot bolts |1| and- |13 fprovide a universal shackle connection between the draft tongue 14 and the transverse draft member |64. TheV rear end of the draft tongue or drawbar'vl14 is supported on a U'shaped hanger |15; the drawbar |14 having a roller |16 carried between two brackets |80 that are bolted to the draft tongue and disposed on opposite sides fore and aft of the hanger |15. The upturned ends |0| of the hanger |15 are bolted to the rear portions 'I9 and 20 of the tubular frame members 0 and I0. When an implement is' drawn by thedraft tongue |14, the bar |64 tends to bow inthe direction' of the applied-force, winch usually tends to draw the ends of the bar in toward the center.

. If the ends were rigidly connected to the final drive housings H6, the ends will tend to draw that portion of the housing inwardly toward the center and thereby throw the final drive gears and is to be understood that these parts shafts out of alignment. However, by virtue of the above described slotted connection between lthe outer ends of the transverse b ar |64, and the drive housings, the ends of the bar are free to slide endwise when deflected without forcing the drive housings out of their proper position.

'I'he tractor shown in thedrawings described above is adapted to receive various forms of cultivating and other operating units. In Figures 1 and 8, a cultivator. rig is "shown as attached to the rear portion of the 'tractor frame. 'Each cultivator rig unit is indicatedby the reference -character C, and each unit ismounted on- 5 a transversely extending bar |82- that is disposed across the top of and carriedby the rear ends of the tubular frame members 9 and l0 at the rear portions I9 and 20 thereof, asbest shown in Figure 1. Two or more bolts |03 secure the bar |82 in place. The lateral ends o f the bar |82 arey extended downwardly on the outside of the vframe' bars'l9 and 20, as indicated at |82a and |8212 inv Figure 1, and a member |85 is secured to. the outside surface of each of these downwardly bent ends, each member |85 vbeing inclined slightly to the rear, as best shown in Figure 8. The upper and lower end portions ofeach bar |85 are apertured to pivotally receive the forwardends of two rearwardly extending parallel rods |86,the rear ends of which are pivotally connected to a member that is parallel to the associated member |85. Ahorizontal arm |9| extends laterally .outwardly from the lower e'nd of each of the members |90, and to each arm4 |9| a tool-shank One or more additional brackets maybe welded to the tubular frame' members .9 and l0 to receive and support additional implements, the brackets |95 being shown in Figure 1 as mounted forwardly of the foot rest platforms 35 and 3,6,

While we have shown and described above-the preferred structure in which the principles of the present invention have been embodied, it fis to be understood that our invention isnot to be limited to the specific details shown and described above, but that, in fact,.widely different I means may be employed in the practice of the. broader aspects of our invention. For example;

we have described a number of partsl as being. castings, and while we prefer to use-castings it may be formed in any suitable manner.

What we claim, therefore,l and desire to secure l by Letters Patent is: e

1. In a tractor, the combinationv of axle housing having an opening, a transmission and differential housing having an 'outwardly disposed ilange adapted -to t over the opening in said axle housing, said transmissionvand differ ential housing including a transmission compartment and a differential compartment, and means for securing said flange tosaid axle'hou'sing with lthe differential compartment disposed within the axle housing.

2. In a tractor, tussenin-mation of an aidehousing of the banjo type h aving axle shafts and `bearing means. supporting the .outer ends of said axle shafts on the .outer portions of said axle housing, a unitary transmission and differential housing having a transmission compartment and a differential compartment-adapted tobe received withinsaid axle housing for alignment with and connection to the inner ends-of said axle shafts, and means for connecting the transmission l and differential housing to said axle housing so as to secure and maintain lthe differential compartment of said transmission and differential housing in aligned position with respect to said axle shafts.

3. In a tractor, Ithe combination of a banjo I ltype axle housing having an opening in the front wall thereof, a differential housing containing dierential gear mechanism journaledtherein.

said differential housing being-adaptedtobe ini serted through saidopening into saidl axle ,housftending through 'aligned `openings in said flange and axle housing Afor securing said differential housing rigidly to said axle housing, ya pair lof 'axle'shafts supported at theirinner ends in said vdifferential housing, and means supporting the Qouter ends of said shafts at the outer ends of said axle housing, respectively.

'4.-In a tractor, the combination of a banjo type axle housing having an opening in the front i bearing, a pair of springs acting against said wall thereof, a transmission housing and a differenuai housing 'rigidly fixed together, wan

between said housings extending outwardly to provide a supporting flange overlapping said axle housing around said opening, bolt means extending through openings in said flange and engaging threaded recesses in said axle housing for securing said supporting flange 'to said axle housing for closing said opening, said differential housing .extending into said axle housing and completely enclosed thereby and totally carried on said supporting flange, said transmission housing extending forwardly from its support on said flange.

5. In aV tractor, a rear axle housing, traction i wheels journaled at the outer ends of said housing, means for driving each ofthe wheels includo ing a drive shaft, a pair of axle shafts disposed in said axle housing in axial alignment with said wheel-drivev shafts, the adjacent ends of said shafts being splined, a pair of couplings transmitting power from said axleshafts to said drive shafts.' each of said couplingsv comprising an interhally splined hub receiving the adjacent ends ofthe associated axle shaft and drive shaft in opposite ends, respectively, and a pair of brake elements mounted on said hubs, respectively.

6. In atractor, 'a rear axle housing, a differ- -ential unit iournaled for rotation therein and including a pair of dierential gears, a pair of axle'shafts journaled for rotation in said ,rear axle housing and slidingly connected for rotation by said differential gears, drive wheels journaled at the outer ends Aof said axle housing, means for driving each of said wheels including a shaft disposed in axial alignment with the associated axle shaft, the adjacent ends' of said shafts being splinedand a pair of brake drums, each having an internally splined hub fixed to the associated wheel driving shaft and slidably but non-rotatably receiving the outer splined end of the associated axle shaft.

7. In\a tractor, a rear axle housing, a differential unit journaled for rotation therein and including a pair'of differential gears havingsplined hubs, la pair of axle shafts -having splined inner ends adapted to slidably tit into said splined hubs for'rotation by said .differential gears, traction wheels journaled at the outer ends of said axle housing, means for driving each of said wheels including-a drive shaftv disposed in axial alignment with .the outer end of each of said axles,

ari anti-friction type-bearing for supporting each drive shaft, a coupling member slidablyreceiving the .adjacent ends of Aeach of the associated drive and axle shafts and havingy means engaging said bearing, and a pair of springs acting against said axle shafts, respectively, and 'reacting through said couplingmembers against said bearings,.t`ending to urge said axle shafts inwardly of salddiiferential unit and also to hold said coupling members in'proper positio 8. In a tractor, a rear axle housing, a differential unit journaled for rotation therein and including a pair of differential gears having splined hubs, a pair ofl axle shafts having .splined 5 inner ends adapted to slidably t into said splined hubs for rotation by said differential gears,trac 'tion wheels journaled at the outer ends of said axle housing, means for driving each of said wheels including a drive shaft disposed in axial l0 alignment with the outer end of each of said axles, an anti-friction type bearing for supporting each drive shaft, a couplingl member slidably 1 receiving the adjacent ends of each of the associated drive and axle shafts and engaging said `axle shafts, respectively, and reacting Vthrough said coupling members against lsaid bearing, tending to urge said axle shafts inwardly of said differential unit and also to hold said hubs in place, and a thrust block disposed between said differential gears and the inner ends of said axle shafts for limiting their inward movement under the influence of said springs.

9.,In a tractor, a rear axle housing, a differ- 2'5 ential unit journaled for rotation therein and including a pair of differential gears having splined hubs, a pair of axle shafts having splined inner ends adapted to slidably fit into said splined hubs for rotation by said'diferential gears, traction wheels journaled at the outer ends of said splined, apair of coupling members, each comprising an internally splined hub slidably receiving the adjacent ends of each of the associated drive and axle shafts in opposite ends, respectively, and a brake element encircling said cou- 40 pling member, and a pair .of springs acting against said'axle shafts, respectively, and reacting against said coupling members, tending to urge said axle shafts inwardly and said coupling members outwardly of said differential unit.

5 l0. In a tractor, a rear axle housing, a differential unit journaled for rotation thereinA and including a pair of differential gears having splined hubs, a pair of axle shafts having splined inner ends adapted to slidably fit intosaid splined 0 hubs for rotation by said differential gears, traction Wheels journaled at the outerends of said axle housing, means for driving each of said wheels including a drive shaft disposed in axial alignment with the outer end of each of said axles, the adjacent ends of said shafts being splined, an antifriction type bearing in which said drive shaftis journaled, a, pair of coupling members, each comprising an internally-splined hub slidably receiving the adjacent ends of each 6o of the associated drive and axle shafts in opposite ends, respectively, and having means engag- .ing said bearing, and a brake element ymounted on each of said coupling members for selectively braking each of said wheels through the latter,

and a pair of springs acting against said axle shafts to urge the latter 'inwardly in opposed relation, and reacting outwardly against said couplingV members, the latter transmitting the outward thrust'to said bearings.

11.4 In a 'tractor having a banjo type rear drive housing' enclosing differential gears, a pair'of final drive housings `on opposite sides of saidv rear housing having apertures in their sides' adjacent sa1d rear housing, a bolting fiange extending outwardly from each of said apertures for securing said housings to said rear housing with said apertures in register with openings in opposite sides of the rear housing, respectively, a traction wheel journaled on each of said nal drive housings, means for driving each of said-wheels including a short drive shaft rotatably disposed in said final drive housing and having a splined inner end, an antifriction type bearing in which said drive shaft is journaled, a pair of axle shafts having splined inner ends slidably mounted in said differential gears and splined outer ends disposed adjacent to and in alignment with said splined inner ends oi' said drive shafts, a coupling member including an internally splined hub slidably engaging the adjacent ends of said aligned shafts and having means engaging said bearing. and spring means acting against said axle shafts tovurge the latter inwardly and reacting through said hubs against said bearings to hold the hubs and said axle shafts in proper position after the final drive housings are secured to said rear housing. y

12. The combination set forth in claim 11, in-

10 cluding the further provision of brake drums carried rigidly on said coupling members. IRAD. MAXON.

WILLARD H. NORDENSON. MAX SKLOVSKY. 

